Examiner.com,- Washington DCHome Trends: From the Cradle to College- A Bed For All Ages

We all dont have the budget of Jennifer Lopez to keep up with the furnishing needs of a growing child so its nice to know that one of the smartest trends emerging for parents is the lifetime crib. This versatile furniture converts from an infant's crib to a bed and can follow your offspring from the nursery into young adult years, making it the only bed you may ever have to buy for your child.

When the bed makes the transition You wouldnt be able to tell it was a crib, says Lindsay Clark, e-commerce manager for Bratt Decor in Belvedere Square.

Crib beds typically are stylish, elegant and practical and manufacturers say designed to transition seamlessly to a full-sized bed. Their price range is from $850 to more than $1,500 for an its our first child extravagance. With some styles, a crib can convert to a designer daybed just by removing the side rails.

Preparing a crib for adult conversion means an additional purchase of a twin or full metal bed frame, a footboard adapter and possibly a box spring, all of which are sold separately.

Weve noticed a trend for youth furniture that begins in the nursery, said Mary Bauer, Bratt Decors owner, in blog notes on the store website. Parents are finding more solutions that are cost effective and appropriate for growth in today's market. We are discovering the parents are not interested in totally redesigning their childs room after the first two or three years.

In fact, if you invest in the full nursery suite offered by some manufacturers the entire room furnishings can conceivably morph from a crib to a full bed and with the turn of a lid a diaper changing table can turn into a dresser and storage unit.

While consumers are becoming more conscious about their budgets and their impact on the environment, they are purposefully seeking out eco-friendly, non-toxic products. Interest is growing in versatile children's furnishing, such as those sold at Bratt Decor, that are made of wood from sustainable forest farms and designed with nontoxic paint.